Sandwiches are a classic comfort snack that are easy to whip up at home, but there’s no denying that the ones we make ourselves don’t always taste restaurant-quality. Enter Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread. This soft and delicious loaf is the perfect base for any sandwich. Read on for more simple ways to make your next fried chicken or fluffy fried egg sandwich taste gourmet from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Honey Mustard & Ranch Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich
Tip#1: Texture is key for the perfect bite every time. Using skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe will yield the most restaurant-worthy results that will impress every time!
Tip #2: Marinating is worth it. Allowing the chicken to marinate in buttermilk and pickle juice for up to 24 hours ensures a flavour that competes with any best-selling sammy.
Tip #3: Keep it saucy. We all know a key part of any sandwich is the sauce, and we promise that making your own ranch and honey mustard is easier than you think. Chef Matt Basile has the perfect recipe for smother-worthy sauces that add a gourmet twist you can’t recreate from a bottle.
To bring it all together, Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread holds up to this savoury, saucy sandwich while still being perfectly soft and toasty.
Ingredients:
2 slices Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread
2 skin-on, boneless chicken thighs
¼ cup pickle juice
1-2 cups buttermilk
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 tbsp garlic powder
5-6 cups canola oil, for frying
Honey mustard sauce:
½ cup yellow mustard
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp hot sauce
Ranch dressing:
4 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp buttermilk
3 cloves garlic, grated
2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
Juice from ½ lemon
Pepper, to taste
Salt, to taste
To plate:
¼ iceberg lettuce, shredded
5-6 bread and butter pickle slices
Directions:
In a bowl, add the chicken thighs and cover with buttermilk, add pickle juice and season with cayenne pepper, mix. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the fridge for at least one hour, up to 24 hours.
To make the honey mustard sauce, mix together the yellow mustard, honey, melted butter, apple cider vinegar and hot sauce. Set aside.
To make the ranch, mix sour cream and buttermilk. Grate in fresh garlic, squeeze in the lemon juice, add the chopped dill and mix. Season with salt and pepper and mix. Place in the fridge.
In a bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add in the buttermilk marinated chicken thighs and toss to coat with the flour. Squeeze each piece so the flour sticks well.
Add canola oil to a heavy bottomed pot or cast iron pan. If you use a pan, make sure to leave room for the oil to rise once the chicken is added. Let the oil heat up and then add the floured chicken thighs. Let it cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping midway. When cooked through to an internal temp of 165°F, remove from the oil and place on an elevated rack on top of a tray or a plate lined with paper towel. Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of both slices of Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread and place butter side down on the preheated pan to lightly toast.
Place each piece of bread on a plate or platter, toasted side down. Place a piece of fried chicken on one piece of bread, then the honey mustard sauce goes over the chicken, topped with pickles and lettuce. Spread the ranch on the other slice of bread and close the sandwich. Serve warm.
Fluffy Egg Sandwich
If egg sandwiches are more your go-to, we’ve also got you covered. There’s something about the simplicity of a perfectly prepared egg sandwich that can be intimidating, but with a few quality ingredients, like Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread, you can make a 5-star sandwich while still in your pyjamas.
Tip #1: Kick it up a notch! The key to making this sandwich restaurant-quality is paying attention to the small details, like whipping up a homemade spicy mayo for a little kick. Trust us — this sauce is what takes your egg sandwich from good to great.
Tip #2: A secret ingredient. Take your fried onions to the next level by adding a little yellow mustard for that can’t-put-your-finger-on-it flavour that elevates the humble egg sandwich to restaurant-worthy.
Tip #3: No more rubbery eggs! It can be hard to know when your eggs are done, but letting them finish cooking in the residual heat from the pan means your fried eggs will turn out perfectly cooked every time, just like at your favourite sandwich spot.
All these ingredients are assembled inside a perfectly toasted piece of Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread that takes this at-home experience to the next level.
Ingredients:
2 slices Dempster’s® Signature Gold bread
3 tbsp softened butter, separated
1 garlic clove, grated or finely minced
2 tbsp finely chopped parsley, separated
4 large eggs
½ white onion, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
1 tsp yellow mustard
3 slices of bacon, cut in halves
2 slices gruyere (or swiss cheese)
2 tbsp sriracha mixed with 2 Tbsp mayo
Oil for cooking
Salt to taste
Directions:
Add a drizzle of oil, onions and a pinch of salt to a skillet preheated over medium heat. Sauté for a minute and reduce heat to medium-low and cook until onions are caramelized and jammy, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add mustard in the final 3 minutes of cooking. Remove onions from heat but keep warm under a lid.
Fry the bacon in the same skillet or, bake them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a 400Fven for 15 minutes, until desired crispness. Transfer to paper towels to blot excess oil.
Make garlic butter by mixing together 2 tbsp of softened butter, 1 tbsp of chopped parsley and the garlic. Spread on one side of each slice of Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread. Place buttered side down on skillet preheated on medium and toast until golden brown. Spread garlic butter on the top sides and flip over to toast other side. Place garlic toasts on a wire rack or toast rack so they don’t get soggy.
Whisk eggs vigorously until airy and foamy, for 60 seconds. Preheat a non-stick skillet over low heat. Try cooking 2 eggs at a time in an 8” pan for best results. Melt ½ the remaining tablespoon of butter and wait for it to get foamy before adding the eggs. Allow the eggs to cook untouched for 5 seconds or whenever the bottom is just starting to set. Using a spatula, push egg from the edges towards the centre, tilting the pan as needed to swirl uncooked egg into the gaps. Repeat this around the pan to create mounds of semi-cooked egg in the middle while allowing uncooked egg to touch the cooking surface for even cooking. Be deliberate about keeping large pieces of egg rather than breaking them into small pieces. After 30 seconds or so, the eggs should be 90% cooked through. Season with salt to taste. Remove from heat. Gently flip and allow the remaining wet eggs to finish cooking in the residual heat. Use your spatula to break into 2 or 3 chunks. Repeat with the other 2 eggs.
Using a dough scraper (or other straight edge like the back of a knife), gently push down across the middle of each toasted Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread, on both sides, to create a light crease so it can easily bend into a V. Stand each toast on a small, lipped dish (or taco stand) to hold it in an open V.
To assemble each sandwich, spread sriracha mayo on the toasted Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread, add 3 pieces of bacon, cheese slice, scrambled eggs, and half the mustard onions. Garnish with remaining parsley and enjoy right away!
There’s no need to order out when you’re craving something comforting and gourmet, just follow these chef-approved tips and always have a loaf of Dempster’s® Signature Gold Bread on hand to make your gourmet sandwiches any time of day!